LIVE OAK, FL — Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce additions to the lineup for Suwannee Roots Revival taking place in Live Oak, Florida October 12-15, 2017. The already incredible lineup is expanded to include Mother’s Finest, Chatham County Line, The Revelers, The Lee Boys, Richie and Rosie, Katie Skene, LPT, The Dunehoppers, and The Walker Family Band.

The family friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, campground pickin’ sessions hosted by Sloppy Joe at Slopryland and Quartermoon at Bill Monroe Shrine, the Dance Tent, hands on and performance workshops, yoga, a Kids Tent, and much more! Hosted by long time friends of the park Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on amazing roots music that ties together a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

Get ready to rock out with Mother’s Finest, a funk rock band founded in Atlanta, Georgia by Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock in the early 1970s. The group charted with the singles “Fire,” “Baby Love,” “Don’t Wanna Come Back,” “Love Changes,” and “Piece Of The Rock” in the mid to late 1970s. Known internationally, for their fusion of Funk, Rock, Gospel, R&B Metal, and Jazz, they are incomparable and unique in their ability to bring it to you in concert. And now after several year’s quiet, they’re still one of the best LIVE bands on the planet and we are happy to host them for their debut appearance at SOSMP

Raleigh, NC­ based Bluegrass band Chatham County Line made their debut appearance at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater opening for the Avett Brothers this July and we are eager for them to perform at Suwannee Roots Revival this Fall! They’ve been traveling the country with their most recent Yep Roc album release, Autumn. Pop Matters says, “They are masterful pickers and varied songwriters capable of creating an infectious backdrop for their audiences to behold with their innovative, masterclass harmonies.”

The Revelers combine Cajun, Country, Blues and Zydeco into a powerful tonic of roots music straight from southwest Louisiana that’s sure to get you moving. The Revelers include founding members of the Red Stick Ramblers and The Pine Leaf Boys, two of the groups unquestionably at the vanguard of the Louisiana cultural renaissance. The band’s second full-length album, Get Ready, featured all original material and was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2016. OffBeat Magazine calls them “groove bound and dance compelling.”

The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest sacred steel ensembles bringing forth what eTown calls a ““powerhouse, gospel-influenced sound.” Although this style of music was virtually unknown outside the House of God church until the past decade, the music has a rich history dating back to the 1930’s. The Lee Family has been an integral part of both the church and its music for decades and has made a plethora of appearances at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park over the years.

The Dance Tent will feature organized dance sets along with performance sets designed to get your body moving! The Dunehoppers return with their classic take on Contra and Square Dance. There will be brief instruction prior to each of the organized dance sets. The Walker Family Band will feature incredible music designed for the Waltz. Jacksonville’s LPT, an Afro-Cuban band will get hips moving with opportunity for Salsa and other Latin Dance. And then for your fix of Cajun/Zydeco, The Revelers will bring that Louisiana gumbo mix right to Live Oak!

Suwannee Roots Revival will feature a special set of Guy Clark music presented by Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp. Guy Clark made his first appearance at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park at the 2nd Annual Suwannee Springfest in 1998 and he joined the Suwannee Family every spring over the next 14 years with only a couple exceptions due to illness. Both Verlon and Shawn have a long history of not only performing with Guy, but also co-writing with him. So many of the Guy songs we’ll hear them share weave parts of their personal histories with Guys into the magical world the songs create. We are delighted to pay tribute to Guy Clark with this performance by two of his favorite performers and friends.

The festival pays tribute and remembers our beloved artists who have passed on with our memorial Vassar Sunday. There will also be a special set to honor the amazing and legendary Col. Bruce Hampton – details will be forthcoming.

Fall is a wonderful time to reconnect with nature and enjoy the garden and we are thrilled to offer a Permaculture Action Day Workshop on Thursday, Oct 12th, 10am – 1pm called “The Low Maintenance Food Forest.” Food forests can be very low maintenance gardening solution and create food independence for you and your family. Learn the basics of maintaining a food forest as part of our series of educational, hands-on learning experiences. Chop and drop, natural mulching and fertilizing techniques, laying seeds for winter crops and beneficial bugs will be covered in this workshop. Our partners Great Southern Forestry and Grow Here Now will answer questions about bringing permaculture principles to your garden. Space is limited.
Sign up to participate at SuwanneeRootsRevival.com/actionday.

A limited number of Early Bird Tickets are on sale until August 31st for $155 for a 4-­day Weekend Pass (all taxes, fees and primitive camping included). Kids age 12 and under are invited to join for free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who buys a multi-day ticket. There are also military and student discounts available. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking.The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park offers a unique experience like no other, a true playground for all that attend. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms and water stations. Upgraded Camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. Attendees can also reserve golf cart rentals by calling the park.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

With half of the lineup consisting of female artists, The Festy Experience Director Michael Allenby says, “We recognize that the previous version of the music industry is hurting and can not invest in artists and progress their careers. It is now the promoter’s job to evolve the industry and we believe that gender equality is a critical issue. Other industries often claim that gender inequality is a ‘pipeline issue’ that will take a long time to evolve; however, there’s no shortage of amazing female artists and performers. The marketing of this talent happens AT festivals… not just FOR festivals.

“The fact that the first half of this year’s Festy lineup was ALL MEN went surprisingly unnoticed by most.” Allenby continues, “We see unbalanced programming too often and wanted to do something to draw attention to the issue. It’s one of many progressive changes that The Festy intends to roll out over the coming years and we are challenging promoters to make social progress a priority in all aspects of large-scale community gatherings.”

Throughout the event’s year history, The Festy Experience team has worked hard to produce a diverse festival experience that illustrates its core values: a love of craft food & beer (they will be offering a variety of Virginia’s award winning craft beer), appreciation for the outdoors, and stellar music. A family-friendly atmosphere is key; along with a family camping area, there will be a large kids area, a teen zone, special programming, a kids instrument making workshop, as well as other family activities. Of course they’ll still have an amazing yoga program, plus the 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Burn (5k/10k)!

Environmental sustainability is important to the organizers and they are eliminating all waste from single-use plastic cups. Instead every All Weekend ticket comes with a free commemorative steel pint cup from The Festy’s Partner, Klean Kanteen, which they can use for free water from filling stations placed throughout site as well as beer purchases.

The Festy Experience started in 2009 and is a partnership between Allenby’s Virginia-based company, The Artist Farm and The Infamous Stringdusters and it offers more than music. This will be The Festy Experience’s second year at Infinity Downs Farm, which is conveniently located just 35 miles south of Charlottesville and 30 miles north of Lynchburg, adjacent to the site of LOCKN’ Festival. The property features outdoor amphitheaters, open fields, campgrounds, hiking, and over 7 miles of biking trails. Stay tuned for more information about outdoor activities and workshops.

If you have any questions please contact us at info@theartistfarm.com or 434-220-4000.
More information can also be found at www.thefesty.com.Location: Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm
1510 Diggs Mountain Road
Arrington, VA 22922

Tickets and Lodging Upgrade Options:

Tickets are on sale now and there are plenty of options including Weekend Camping, Car Camping, Family Camping, RV (powered or non-powered options), Individual Day, and Weekend-Day Passes with addition parking fees added on depending on your needs. Kids under 12 are free and there are special rates for teens (13-17).

All Weekend Access Tickets also Thursday Arrival (making it 4 days total over Columbus Day weekend). This is made possible because of a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC/ Virginia Is For Music Lovers) who recently awarded sponsorships to 32 Virginia music festivals, including The Festy Experience.

The Festy Experience is thrilled to announce Lodging Upgrades. The Show Sherpa Village offers all the fun, with none of the hassle. The Show Sherpa will provide the gear you need (Tents, Camping Cots, Lanterns, Camping Chairs), set up your campsite, and brew you coffee each morning!

The High Country Village provides many of the comforts and conveniences of a Hotel but with the full Festy Experience of camping on-site for the weekend. Set in a premium location, The THC Village has three lodging options: Deluxe Hideout RV, Deluxe Solid Ground Shelters (with Queen and Twin Sized Beds), Standard Solid Ground Shelters (with Camping Cots). Each option includes a breakfast & coffee bar, daily Happy Hour, a large covered lounge, a fire pit, power, free showers, and last but not least, flushable toilets.

Charlottesville, VA — The Festy Experience is excited to announce the first half of its music lineup for the 8th annual festival, happening October 5-8, 2017 in the Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The lineup comprises a carefully curated blend of national and local roots music acts, featuring The Infamous Stringdusters, Drive-By Truckers, Sam Bush Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Jerry Douglas Band, Cabinet, Billy Strings, Love Canon, Carl Anderson, and The 8th Annual Garrettgrass Gospel Hour. And this is just half of the artist lineup. The next installment of artists will be announced on Wednesday, June 14th. Tickets are on-sale now.

The Festy Experience came about as an idea between Virginia-native Michael Allenby and The Infamous Stringdusters in 2009. Allenby’s Charlottesville-based company, The Artist Farm, was working with the band at the time in management. They got to talking and wanted to organize an event that grew out of the band’s shared experiences with fans over the years on the road. Music was a focus, but it was always more than music to them. Some had started raising families and community has always been at the heart of their involvement in the festival scene.

Throughout the event’s seven-year history, The Festy Experience team has worked hard to produce a festival experience that illustrates its core values: a love of craft food & beer (they will be offering a variety of Virginia’s award winning craft beer), appreciation for the outdoors, and stellar music. A family-friendly atmosphere is key; along with a family camping area, there will be a large kids area, a teen zone, special programming, a kids instrument making workshop, as well as other family activities.

With acres of meadows and miles of trails, The Festy Experience is crafting a full weekend of outdoor activities that will include Disc Golf and many other outdoor activities… plus Guided Nature Tours, Trail Runs, and Hosted Bike Rides. Of course they’ll still have an amazing YOGA program, plus the 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Burn (5k/10k)! Stay tuned for more information on activities, workshops, and special accommodations.

This will be The Festy Experience’s second year at Infinity Downs Farm, a 387-acre property in Arrington, VA, located in the Nelson County Preserve at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia adjacent to the site of LOCKN’ Festival. The property features outdoor amphitheaters, open fields, campgrounds, hiking, and over 7 miles of biking trails. The Festy is fortunate that Infinity Downs Farm has been investing in extremely rare infrastructure (fencing, power, roads, water, internet) that will provide a sturdy foundation for The Festy Experience to continue its mission of long-term sustainability. It is conveniently located just 35 miles south of Charlottesville and 30 miles north of Lynchburg.

Tickets are on sale now and there are plenty of options including Weekend Camping, Car Camping, Family Camping, RV (powered or non-powered options), Individual Day, and Weekend-Day Passes with addition parking fees added on depending on your needs. Kids under 12 are free and there are special rates for teens (13-17). If you have any questions please contact us at info@theartistfarm.com or 434-220-4000.

The Festy Experience is excited to announce that All Weekend Access Tickets now include FREE Thursday Arrival (making it 4 days total over Columbus Day weekend). This is made possible because of a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) who recently awarded sponsorships to 32 Virginia music festivals, including The Festy Experience.

Anyone that purchases an All Weekend ticket will also receive a FREE commemorative steel pint cup from The Festy’s Partner Klean Kanteen. This is part of the festival’s commitment to environmental sustainability and used for beer purchases and water from free filling stations throughout the event.

Watch out for a series of events throughout the year in central Virginia to keep The Festy Experience around all year such as Bluegrass Brunch, listening room shows, and other special family friendly events.

ASHEVILLE, NC — The 2nd Annual Jam In The Trees is thrilled to announce the addition of The Infamous Stringdusters to the lineup which includes some incredible acts that have already been annonced: Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O’Brien, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose, and Ken Tizzard. The 2017 event takes place Friday and Saturday, August 25-26th at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC. More artists TBA!

Bluegrass virtuososThe Infamous Stringdusters are no stranger to WNC and are excited to return with their new album LAWS OF GRAVITY, which debuted at #3 on iTunes Country Chart and #1 on the Amazon Bluegrass Chart. As first revealed on Rolling Stone Country, the new album marks a return to form for the Grammy-nominated acoustic five-piece. LAWS OF GRAVITY is all new original Dusters music–perhaps the most “Infamous” record they’ve done in their decade together.

Jam in the Trees has also announced the Friday schedule which starts with Ken Tizzard, followed by Underhill Rose, then Larry Keel. Doors at 7, show starts at 8pm, all on the indoor stage.

Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage, followed by an “After Hours Jam” on the indoor stage.

Early Bird Tickets available while supplies last. VIP tickets are available for $100 and include Meet & Greets with the bands, a guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred parking, a commemorative event poster and more! Hotel and shuttle information coming soon. Stay tuned to the festival’s new website www.jaminthetrees.com for more information and updates.

JITT is a benefit for Wild Forests & Fauna(WildFF) and last year’s inaugural event raised $5000 to protect, restore and support threatened forests and wildlife in Western North Carolina. Relive some of the wonderful moments of 2016 through photos of the event by David Simchock Photography at www.frontrowfocus.com.

“At WildFF, our Big Tree Project that leverages outreach education and reforestation to protect forests in Western North Carolina and around the globe,” WildFF’s Executive Director Benjamin Colvin says, “Since JITT, the Big Tree Project has grown and has even sparked a relationship with ABTech and local company ArborZen to restore a razed site with over 500 native trees. We are thrilled to be a part of this and can not wait for Jam in the Trees 2017!”

JITT is now accepting art vendor applications for Jam In The Trees 2017. JITT is booking non-food vendors only; if you are a food vendor interested in being a part of JITT, please contact Pisgah Brewing directly. Here is the link to the Art Vendor Application:http://bit.ly/JITT_ArtVendorApp_2017.

Lifelong resident of Asheville and President of Jam In The Trees, LLC, Laurel York, says, “We hope the ‘jamsters’ will come out again in 2017 for an even better event than last year and show their support for their great cause!”

LIVE OAK, FL — Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the music schedule for the inaugural Suwannee Roots Revival taking place October 13-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. This old school, family friendly event includes camping, disc golf, and campground pickin’ stages and features multiple stages, The Amphitheater, The Porch, The Dance Tent, Workshops at The Music Hall & The Music Farmers Hands On Workshop Stage, many decorated with beautiful backdrops by Richard and Rainne of tye-dyebackdrops.com. Bring your instruments to enjoy the pickin’ parties going off throughout the campgrounds.

Suwannee Roots Revival is thrilled to unveil a poster design by Visual and Performance Artist Bean Spence whose whimsical and fantastical art will also decorate The Amphitheater Stage. Bean Spence, along with Matt Abercrombie and Leo Hearn, will be painting live and displaying their art in the vendor village. Folks can pick up signed copies of Bean’s poster as well as the poster previously unveiled by Marci Davis at Festival Merch.

Join the Suwannee team in dressing in your best 70’s pinball wizard attire on Thursday for The HillBenders “Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry,” following sets from The Shook Twins and Town Mountain. Thursday night will close out with a late-night set from The Grass is Dead.

Friday features long sets from The Wood Brothers and Leftover Salmon, back to back closing out the night on The Amphitheatre Stage. Also see Blueground Undergrass, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express, The Honeycutters, Ralph Roddenbery and Donna Hopkins and more Friday on the main stage. The Porch Stage will also be kicking off on Friday with sets from Florida favorites Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Acoustic Messengers, and The Applebutter Express. Comedian/Illusionist Jeff Bradley will be making special appearance as the last performance of the evening on the Porch Stage.

Leftover Salmon will return to the stage on Saturday for back to back hour-and-a-half sets with Sam Bush on The Amphitheatre Stage. The Stage also features long sets with Donna the Buffalo and Peter Rowan, following Jon Stickley Trio, Verlon Thompson, The Mike + Ruthy Band among others. On Saturday afternoon there will be plenty of things for the kids to do hosted by the Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. Later on Nikki Talley, Dread Clampitt, and Quartermoon perform, Comedian/Illusionist Jeff Bradley will make a second appearance.

Sunday brings things back in a bit with all the music at The Amphitheatre Stage with Donna the Buffalo closing out the festival in a set which will feature many other musicians that have also performed throughout the weekend. This follows an extra special set from Col. Bruce Hampton, Reverend Jeffrey Mosier, and Friends! Sunday also features Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, Verlon Thompson, and Big Cosmo. The stage begins at 10am with Tania and The Kids Jam.

The Dance Tent Stage features music Thursday through Saturday and will be located in the meadow providing a shaded space designed for movement. There will be a dance floor with Contra and Square Dances led by The Dunehoppers with instruction at the beginning of each set. Many of your favorite bands will be performing there including Jim Lauderdale & Donna the Buffalo, Col. Bruce Hampton & Madrid Express, Blueground Undergrass, Town Mountain, Jon Stickley Trio, SYZYGY, Dread Clampitt, The Mike + Ruthy Band and more!

The Kids Tent will be the place to be for the young and young at heart as Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus host a variety of musical and fun activities.

Throughout the weekend the Music Farmers Hands On Workshop Stage will hosthands-on workshops with instruction provided by festival artists. A special Permaculture Action Day of gardening and workshops will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2016. Festival attendees, who sign up in advance, will come together for hands-on projects in permaculture, rainwater harvesting, and assembling recycling stations.

Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will hold a raffle to raise funds for Kids Music Education in Northeast Florida. Funds got to in-school education programs in Suwannee and Hamilton county and to Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. Catch kids from the music camp performing on Saturday on The Porch stage!

Check out the full schedule with these acts and many more talented and amazing artists near and dear to the Spirit of the Suwannee family at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full-service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364-1683.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the Park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

LIVE OAK, FL — Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the Suwannee Roots Revivaltaking place October 13­-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. The stellar lineup includes Leftover Salmon, Sam Bush, The Wood Brothers, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan Band, Blueground Undergrass, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The HillBenders “Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry”, Town Mountain, Col. Bruce Hampton, The Mike + Ruthy Band, Jon Stickley Trio and more.

A limited number of Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for $135 for a 4-­day Weekend Pass (all taxes, fees and primitive camping included) through midnight on July 6th when they rise to the next ticketing tier. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

The festival promises to be a family friendly event, and includes camping, disc golf, campground pickin’ sessions hosted by Sloppy Joe and Quartermoon, workshops and more! In addition, long­time friends of the park Randy Judy and Beth Judy will emcee the new festival.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking.The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park offers a unique experience like no other, a true playground for all that attend. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms and water stations. Upgraded Camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. Attendees can also reserve golf cart rentals by calling the park.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Stepping up the grassy hill to attend the third annual Lockn’ Music Festival, attendees were greeted with the sight of the event in all its grandeur. Fields of tents, cars, and RVs stretched into the distance far from the dazzling Oakridge stage. Held inside the Oakridge farm racetrack, Lockn’ provides a wide open space for its many thousands of attendees. Based on previous year’s success, the setup for year three is mostly unchanged, providing a great structure to explore the festival grounds and enjoy the music from almost anywhere.

One cannot discuss this year’s festivities without mentioning the unfortunate and literal rain on the parade. Due to an intense storm system on Wednesday, there was enough damage to the festival stage, vendor tents, and campgrounds that impaired their ability to safely run on its scheduled opening day. To the dismay of many, the festival shut all Thursday events down, turning attendees away to the many impromptu pop-up shantytowns in campgrounds and parking lots around the state. Some of the acts were lost, as Thursday was the only day they could play (Little Feat, Galactic, etc.), but Lockn’ was quick to remedy the situation, taking action to create a condensed schedule of music for the remainder of the weekend, making the best of the time and musical talents they had to work with.

Seeing as that first Friday fell on the important but somber date of 9/11, the festival did their best to honor the occasion in a way that didn’t dwell on the tragedy. John Popper of Blues Traveler took the stage first to deliver the national anthem, surrounded by a group of first responders from the attack on the Twin Towers underneath a big star spangled banner waving for everyone to see. After a few moments to reflect, the swaths of festival attendees bunched up towards the stage were finally greeted with the sounds of The Doobie Incident, a respective combination of classic rock band The Doobie Brothers, and The String Cheese Incident, who played classics from the Doobie’s career but with some added instrumentation from String Cheese. The rest of the first day’s acts followed in a seamless succession, as bands like Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot, Moonalice, and the North Mississippi Allstars all provided rocking, roots, and bluesy sets before New Orleans singer songwriter Anders Osborne and his band brought their original style of heavy funk/blues rock to the stage.

Steve Earle andThe Dukes, with his deep southern tones and their unique country style provided a chance for audience members to gather themselves, and prepare for a torrential outpouring of musical experiences that evening which surpassed the literal storm from the days before. The String Cheese Incident revisited the stage to deliver their own set, followed closely by a performance from the always varying Phil and Friends, this time featuring the fantastic vocal stylings of Lockn’ veteran, Chris Robinson, who took the stage singing classic Grateful Dead tunes in front of Phil Lesh, himself. This was the first of many performances that emphasized one of the greatest elements of Lockn’: collaboration. The cooperative efforts of veteran musicians across genres made for some historical and downright crazy performances throughout the rest of the weekend.

The night ended with back- to-back powerhouse celebrations of music history: The 50 year anniversary of Jefferson Airplane, and a tribute to the late Joe Cocker. The first performance featured Jack and Jorma of Hot Tuna fame, alongside Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, followed by an unforgettable show simply dubbed Mad Dogs and Englishmen. There’s something magical about seeing Susan Tedeschi, Leon Russell, and Chris Robinson all on the same stage alongside Cocker’s old backup singers like Rita Coolidge which created an image and a sound that attendees will not soon forget. Closing up with late night performances from Mickey Hart and Umphrey’s McGee, Friday came to a very rousing and very late conclusion.

Things ramped up early on Saturday kicking things off with one of the Rockn’ to Lockn’ contest winners, local country band Lord Nelson, followed by the always entertaining 80’s cover bluegrass group Love Canon. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe teamed up with keyboardist Chuck Leavell to deliver a remarkable performance of soulful horn-heavy rock before Hot Tuna once more took the stage, this time playing a sit down acoustic set of their own music and introspective conversation, allowing audience members a little period of relaxation. More great sets that afternoon with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, who somehow get better with every performance. The soulful duo of quiet guitarist Derek Trucks alongside wife Susan Tedeschi, a woman who could sing the roof off a stadium, was soon joined by Grateful Dead legend Bob Weir for a few tunes. The appearance of Weir enamored audience members with another brilliant aspect of Lockn’: The Legacy of the Grateful Dead.

Ever since the grand reunion show in Chicago, speculation about the Grateful Dead at Lockn’ gripped the hopes of Deadheads everywhere. For many who were unable to attend that “last show” at Soldier’s Field, it seems that Lockn’ was a possible opportunity to see the four members in some capacity. Ever since Lockn’ organizers Dave Fry and Pete Shapiro announced that all four members were going to be there, the hearts and minds of fans everywhere were racing.

Before that was to be seen, we got musical legend Robert Plant with the Sensational Space Shifters , followed shortly by what at this point seems to be a Lockn’ tradition of Widespread Panic collaborating with a classic musician, in this case Jimmy Cliff.

Then came a show from Billy and The Kids, which may be the closest to the real lineup people may ever get, with Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart all performing on the Oak Stage, while Phil Lesh set up for his show on the Ridge Stage adjoining (but not accompanying). For a very brief moment in time, from the audience, one could at least see all four members of the Grateful Dead together, in some capacity on stage together.

The second Phil and Friends show was as interesting as the first, featuring two different but masterful guitarists Warren Haynes and Carlos Santana. Saturday finished with another late night performance from Mickey Hart, and an appearance of Govt Mule.

Sunday waved goodbye to the thousands of festival-goers, but not without a few more stunning performances. Richmond reps and Rockn’ to Lockn’ winners, The Southern Belles , followed by Fishbone, The Oh Hellos, and a hip shaking performance by St. Paul and The Broken Bones. Save for performances from Trombone Shorty and Slightly Stoopid, the last evening was comprised of artists (Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, and Robert Plant) who had played previously, but played additional sets in different configurations, proving that more is sometimes better.

It seems that with each successive and successful year, Lockn’ has become one of the biggest and most unforgettable festivals in Virginia. Through the efforts of vendors, volunteers, and staff, Lockn’ managed to overcome significant environmental challenges and not only compensated but turned obstacle into accomplishment by providing collaborative combinations into experiences unlikely to ever be forgotten by event participants.